WARNING: Contains Spoilers for NIGHTWING #119!Nightwing’snew era in DC Comics has kicked off with a bang, as the new creative team dives straight into jaw-dropping twists by revealing a dark secret about Dick Grayson’s origin, one that will forever reshape how fans see his time asRobin. But the surprises don’t end there — Nightwing now faces his most terrifying foe yet, a meta-powered clown with a chilling obsession with the Original Boy Wonder.
…Watters and Soy have done a remarkable job setting the tone for the story and generating excitement for their run with this character debut…
Dan Watters and Dexter Soy are set to usher in the next chapter of Dick Grayson’s story withthe release ofNightwing#119on August 23, 2025. In the meantime, fans can dive into the six-page preview, which sets a thrilling tone for the upcoming narrative.
The issue begins with the introduction ofDick’s latest adversary, an unnamed clown figure, whose unsettling narration is paired with images of him manipulating puppet versions of Dickas a young boy, Robin, and Nightwing, alongside Dick’s parents, Batman, and the Titans. While this visual alone is incredibly creepy, it’s the clown’s chilling revelation that"they"have been watching Dick since his days as Robin that truly sends shivers down readers’ spines.
The unnamed clown-themed villainis believed to be meta because of key hints, including his disturbingly lifelike puppets and a notable scene where he pulls back a comic panel in a clever fourth-wall break.
Dick Grayson’s Time as Robin Attracted a Terrifying Meta-Powered Clown
Main Cover by Dexter Soy forNightwing#122 (2025)
The clown begins his narration by recounting the well-knownorigin story of Dick Grayson, starting with Dick’s childhood as a Flying Grayson, performing acrobatics alongside his parents until their tragic murder. He then transitions to the part of the story where Dick is taken in by Batman and soon becomes Robin, transforming into“a glorious, cackling, dancing imp of a child.”While the revelation thatthe clown has been watching Dick since his boyhood is undeniably creepy, it’s what the clown says next that is truly chilling:“It was then that we knew he was ours.”
This revelation completely redefines Dick’s time as Robin, adding a dark twist to his days as the Boy Wonder, asit was ultimately his assumption of the mantle that attracted the attention of the meta-powered clown.The clown further comments on how Dick has calmed and matured over the years, becoming a source of stability for others, before ominously stating,“It will not do. No, it will not do.”This implies that the clown has sinister plans for Nightwing, perhaps seeking to revert him back to the chaotic force he once was as a child.
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Did DC Just Debut Nightwing’s Best Villain Yet?
Cover C Card Stock Variant by Gleb Melnikov forNightwing#119 (2024)
Despite only appearing for three pages in the preview, the clown is already shaping up to be one of Dick Grayson’s most compelling villains in comic history. The clown’s intricate connection to Dick’s past, along with his unique narrative voice and ominous plans for Nightwing, make him an incredibly intriguing character. It’s impressive how well-developed he appears in these initial pages; Watters and Soy have done a remarkable job setting the tone for the story and generating excitement for their run with this character debut. As a result, fans will undoubtedly be eager to unravel this new character and his intentions for Dick as theNightwingrun progresses.
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NIGHTWING #119 (2024)
Nightwing
Nightwing is the superhero moniker taken up by Dick Grayson, upon his aging out of the Robin role and becoming a superhero of his own. Inspired by the original Kryptonian hero of the same name, Grayson has risen to comic book immortality with the identity, earning respect as one of the greatest leaders in the DC Universe.
